Sam's Chance, and How He Improved It. Horatio Alger Jr.
be careful, though, if you want to come out even."
"Oh, I can manage it," said Sam, confidently.
But Sam was mistaken. He proved himself far from a good calculator. On Sunday he gratified an unusually healthy appetite, besides buying two five-cent cigars. This made necessary an outlay of seventy-five cents. The next day also he overran his allowance. The consequence was that on Wednesday night he went to bed without a cent. He did not say anything about the state of his finances to Henry, however, till the next morning.
"Henry," he said, "I guess I'll have to borrer a little more money."
"What for?" asked his companion.
"I haven't got anything to buy my breakfast with."
"How does that happen?"
"I don't know," said Sam. "I must have lost some out of my pocket."
"I don't think you have. You have been extravagant, that's what's the matter. How much did you spend on Sunday?"
"I don't know."
"I do, for I kept account. You spent seventy-five cents. That's twice as much as you could afford."
"It was only for one day."
"At any rate, you have used up in four days as much as ought to have lasted you the whole week."
"I don't get enough pay," grumbled Sam, who was unprepared with any other excuse.
"There are plenty of boys that have to live on as small pay. I am one of them."
"Will you lend me some money?"
"I'll tell you what I will do. I'll lend you twenty-five cents every morning, and you'll have to make it do all day."
"I can't live on that. You spend more yourself."
"I know I do; but if you spend twice as much as you ought one day, you've got to make it up another."
"Give me the money for three days all at once," said Sam.
"No, I won't."
"Why not?"
"You'd spend it all in one day, and want to borrow some more to-morrow."
"No, I wouldn't."
"Then, you don't need it all the first day."
"You're mean," grumbled Sam.
"No, I'm not. I'm acting like a friend. It's for your own good."
"What can I get for twenty-five cents?"
"That's your lookout. You wouldn't have had to live on it, if you hadn't been too free other days."
In spite of Sam's protestations, Henry remained firm, and Sam was compelled to restrain his appetite for the remainder of the week. I am ashamed to say that, when Saturday night came, Sam tried to evade paying his just debt. But this his roommate would not permit.
"That won't do, Sam," he said. "You must pay me what you owe me."
"You needn't be in such an awful hurry," muttered Sam.
"It's better for both of us that you pay it now," said Henry. "If you didn't, you'd spend it."
"I'll pay you next week. I want to go to hear the minstrels to-night."
"You can't go on borrowed money."
"If I pay you up, I don't have enough to last me till next pay day."
"That's your lookout. Do you know what I would do if I was in your place?"
"What would you do?"
"I'd live on four dollars a week till I'd got five dollars laid aside."
"I'd like the five dollars, but I don't want to starve myself."
"It would be rather inconvenient living on four dollars, I admit, but you would feel paid for it afterward. Besides, Sam, you need some shirts and stockings. I can't keep lending you mine, as I have been doing ever since you came here."
"I can't afford to buy any."
"I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll buy some for you, if you'll agree to pay me up at the rate of fifty cents a week."
"All right!" said Sam, who was very ready to make promises. "Give me the money, and I'll buy some to-night."
"I'd rather go with you, and see that you get them," said Henry, quietly. "You might forget what you were after, and spend the money for something else."
Perhaps Sam recognized the justice of his companion's caution. At any rate, he interposed no objection.
I hope my young readers, who are used to quite a different style of living, will not be shocked on being told that Sam purchased second-hand articles at a place recommended by his roommate. Considering the small sum at his command, he had no choice in the matter. Boys who have to pay their entire expenses out of five dollars a week cannot patronize fashionable tailors or shirt makers. So for three dollars Sam got a sufficient supply to get along with, though hardly enough to make a display at a fashionable watering place.
Sam put the bundle, containing this important addition to his wardrobe under his arm, not without a feeling of complacency.
"Now," said Henry, "it will take you six weeks to pay me for these, at half a dollar a week."
"All right!" said Sam, carelessly.
He was not one to be disturbed about a debt and his companion was shrewd enough to see that he must follow Sam up, if he wanted to get his money paid at the periods agreed upon.
Henry Martin continued to devote a part of every evening to study. He tried to prevail upon Sam to do the same, but without success.
"I get too tired to study," said Sam, and while his roommate was at home he was in the habit of strolling about the streets in search of amusement.
On the next Tuesday evening he met a boy of his acquaintance, who inquired where he was going.
"Nowhere in particular," said Sam.
"Come into French's Hotel, and see them play billiards."
Sam complied.
There was one vacant table, and presently the other proposed a game.
"I can't afford it," said Sam.
"Oh, it won't be much. If you beat me I'll have to pay."
Sam yielded, and they commenced playing, Both being novices, the game occupied an hour, and Sam, who was beaten, found to his dismay that he had to pay sixty cents.
"It don't seem more'n fifteen minutes," he said to himself. "It's awful dear."
"So it is," said his companion; "but if you had beaten me you would have got off for nothing."
"I don't see how I'm goin' to live on five dollars a week," thought Sam, uncomfortably, "I wonder when they'll raise me."
CHAPTER VI.
SAM'S LUCK
When towns and cities find their income insufficient to meet their expenditures, they raise money by selling bonds. Sam would gladly have resorted to this device, or any other likely to replenish his empty treasury; but his credit was not good. He felt rather bashful about applying to his roommate for money, being already his debtor, and, in his emergency, thought of the senior clerk, William Budd.
"Mr. Budd," he said, summoning up his courage, "will you lend me a dollar?"
"What for?" inquired the young man, regarding him attentively.
"I haven't got anything to pay for my meals the rest of the week," said Sam.
"How does that happen?"
"I can't live on five dollars a week."
"Then suppose I lend you a dollar, I don't see that you will be able to repay me."
"Oh, I'll pay you back," said Sam, glibly.
"Have you got any security to offer me?"
"Any security?" asked Sam, who was inexperienced in business.
"Yes. Have you got any houses or lands,